West Brom0 - 1Tottenham

Gareth Bale's stunning strike ensured Tottenham moved to within a point of third-placed Chelsea with a patient victory over 10-man West Brom.

A drab first period in which Bale went close and Shane Long missed two decent chances for the hosts sparked into life two minutes after the break when Goran Popov was sent off for spitting.

Spurs took full advantage of the extra man and began to dominate possession.

Away-day Bale

Gareth Bale has now scored nine Premier League goals away from home this season. Only Robin van Persie (10) has more.

Bale put them ahead with a 20-yard shot and they held on to win with ease.

The Baggies barely threatened in the closing stages and the blame lay at the feet of Popov for his bizarre reaction to a mundane challenge from Kyle Walker.

Until Popov's red card for spitting at the England defender West Brom had created the better chances, but their hopes of avoiding a fifth defeat in their last six games all but ended with his departure.

West Brom, without
wantaway striker Peter Odemwingie,
had two good early chances and the imposing figure of Romelu Lukaku was at the heart of both. First the on-loan Chelsea striker easily won a high ball to send strike partner Shane Long through on goal only for the Republic of Ireland international to hopelessly over-run the pass.

Villas-Boas on "easier" win

Lukaku, whose combination of brute strength and speed seemed to unnerve the visitors' defence, then got a decent shot on target from the left.

But their best opening saw Long's low strike well blocked by the on-rushing Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal after an exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass from Graham Dorrans.

Unsurprisingly, Spurs' main threat in a flat first half came from the pace and direct running of Bale and Aaron Lennon.

A fine burst from Lennon on the left teed up a great opportunity for Clint Dempsey at the far post but the striker headed wide from six yards.

But it was Bale, operating centrally, who looked the most likely source of an away goal. Twice the Welshman glided down the right and delivered dangerous balls into the box and he was closest to opening the scoring when his delightful 20-yard left-foot curler forced a fine fingertip save from Ben Foster deep into first half-injury time.

Analysis

Steve WilsonBBC Match of the Day commentator

West Brom are beaten again - their fifth defeat in six games - but they made it very tough for themselves. They had the better chances before the break but Spurs got on top when Goran Popov was sent off for spitting. It was deeply unpleasant and cost his side the game.

However Tottenham's lack of a Lukaku-type focal point and their inability to get numbers into the box meant the Baggies looked relatively comfortable.

The away side's menace diminished further when Jermain Defoe limped off before the break with what appeared to be a badly twisted left ankle. That was a huge blow to manager Andre Villas-Boas, already deprived of the services of Emmanuel Adebayor who is on on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Defoe's replacement Lewis Holtby looked busy and tidy but, having failed to sign a striker in the transfer window, the last thing Villas-Boas needed was an injury up front.

The game turned in Tottenham's favour, however, a minute after the break when Popov's moment of madness.

Referee Mark Clattenburg immediately waved the red card at the defender and Spurs coasted to victory against their demoralised hosts.

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Popov spitting 'let everybody down'

Lukaku was taken off as the Baggies reorganised and Spurs took full advantage of the extra man and began to completely dominate possession.

Holtby's fizzing near-post shot forced Foster into action and Bale nearly got in on goal but was thwarted by a clattering but fair Foster challenge.

But they were rewarded for their patience on 66 minutes.

Spurs retained possession on the right and the ball was worked to Bale who skipped away from James Morrison and unleashed a fine 18-yard strike that beat Foster for pace and stretched his side's unbeaten Premier League run to nine games.

62:38 Jan Vertonghen takes a shot. Blocked by Gareth McAuley. Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lewis Holtby, clearance
by Jonas Olsson.

62:10 Benoit Assou-Ekotto sends in a cross.

59:47 Gareth Bale takes a shot. Save by Ben Foster.

57:49 Gareth Bale sends in a cross, clearance made by Ben Foster. Lewis Holtby takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Steven
Reid makes a clearance. Kyle Walker produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

57:34 Kyle Walker sends in a cross, clearance made by Jonas Olsson.

56:39 The ball is crossed by Kyle Walker.

56:23 The ball is sent over by Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Jonas Olsson manages to make a clearance.

55:10 Benoit Assou-Ekotto produces a left-footed effort from long distance that goes harmlessly over the bar.

54:40 Gareth Bale takes a shot. Blocked by Claudio Yacob. Corner taken by Lewis Holtby from the left by-line to the near post, Steven
Reid makes a clearance.

53:21 Shot from 18 yards from Lewis Holtby. Save by Ben Foster.

51:42 The assistant referee signals for offside against Shane Long. Free kick taken by Jan Vertonghen.

51:42 Substitution Liam Ridgewell is brought on as a substitute for Romelu Lukaku.

50:23 Shot by Gareth Bale. James Morrison gets a block in. Corner taken by Lewis Holtby from the left by-line played to the near
post, clearance by Steven Reid. Lewis Holtby takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance
made by Shane Long. Mousa Dembele crosses the ball, Clint Dempsey has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing
to the right of the target.

47:01 Sent off The referee shows Goran Popov a red card.

46:07 The referee blows for offside against Romelu Lukaku. Michael Dawson restarts play with the free kick.

45:11 Mousa Dembele fouled by James Morrison, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Dawson restarts play with the free kick.

Comments

He's scored 4 prem league goals against Arsenal. But I presume they're not one of the 'big clubs' you talk of?And seriously, Jack Wilshere? Come back in a few years time when he's fulfilling his potential at your parent club on Moss Side.

Jack Wilshere:"I dont need an agent﻿ because i will never leave Arsenal".Gareth Bale: “It would be nice to experience other leagues and other cultures,” he said. “I’m not afraid to go abroad. If the time comes and a team that’s right comes in for me, then I’ll look at it seriously. I’ll see what happens.”

Is bale as good as messi or ronaldo? I don't think so but he's much better than any other winger in the prem including the likes of hazard or walcott. Ribery is over-rated in my opinion and I'd consider bale far better than him. It's close between him and the likes of robben, di maria etc but I'd go as far as saying bale shades them. He's in top 10 in the world and I'm sure vast majority agree

like I said - proved to be match winner against utd- 50 metre run before finishing with right foot in bottom corner - making a mug of rio ferdinand. scored hat-trick against european champions and dont make me laugh with the 'not trying' tosh! That last comment is totally simplistic - bale tries outrageous 30m shots all the time- walcott only shoots after rounding keepers and he misses half of em

534 - The Premier League's best have graced The Emirates son.536 - We are talking WBA and 10 men. Like I said, can't do it against top defenders. Last season when HR played him on the right, you lot complained because he was ineffective? His conversion rate of 11 goals 92 shots in 22 games compared to Walcott 11 goals 52 shots in 21 games shows he is not a top finisher.

James, the fact that you're now saying he can't finish when he's the 5th top scorer in the league highlights your lack of knowledge when it comes to footy. Inconsistent when forced onto the right? He's started many games this season from the right and it was WBA's tactics to force him on his right the other day but as shearer said- it still turned out to be the gareth bale show!

532 - You won't get a sensible answer here - only denial. To elaborate on your comment, Arsenal have also invested into a state of the art stadium, world class training facilities, one of the best youth systems, a renowned scouting network and foundations for longevity. Truthful answer to your question is bad management of the team and especially at board level.

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